State of the University
Presented to
The University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents
July 7, 2011
By
Donald Straney, Chancellor
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
Category: Remarks & Writings
Aloha,
I’m pleased to announce that the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo is in the process of reorganizing its various international programs and services under the umbrella of the Division of Student Affairs.
International Student Services and Intercultural Education currently resides in the Division of Student Affairs and includes National Student Exchange; it will shortly be joined by Global Exchange Programs, directed by Todd Shumway, and Global Education Programs, directed by Carolina Lam.
Together, these three functional areas will support and advise our international students as well as UH Hilo students who are involved in exchange programs. The team will also develop and implement initiatives that promote intercultural fluency and the globalization of our campus.
Starting July 1, Jim Mellon will be the contact person for issues related to international students. Carolina Lam remains the contact person for UH Hilo students wishing to study abroad, Todd Shumway for global exchange programs, and Zach Street for national student exchange programs.
Until the new Student Services Building is completed, all offices will remain in their current locations.
As a result of the reorganization, existing faculty and staff will be better able to share expertise, coordinate services, and achieve efficiencies in time and resources as they support the success of international students and prepare our students for study abroad.
Donald Straney
Chancellor
Aloha mai kakou-
I’d like to let you know that UH Hilo has a web page set up with an online form for members of the campus community to suggest ways to help address our budget challenges.
Your budget reduction and revenue generation ideas will be more than welcome at http://vcadmin.uhh.hawaii.edu/costsavings.php.
Thank you,
Don Straney
Chancellor
Remarks by UH Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney
2011 UH Hilo Awards and Recognition Celebration
May 3, 2011
Campus Center Plaza
Aloha and Welcome to the UH Hilo Awards and Recognition Ceremony.
As we gather to recognize our honorees, I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize and say “thank you” to all of you. It has been almost a year since I first arrived at UH Hilo, and it’s been an extraordinary learning experience. I’ve found a good deal to admire about our faculty and staff and our entire university community. Your dedication contributes greatly to our success and it’s been an absolute pleasure working with you to move UH Hilo forward.
Today, we’ll recognize our recent retirees, our faculty and staff years of service, and we’ll also announce the winners of this year’s UH Hilo Awards. Before we start with our ceremonies, I’d like to briefly update you on a few things.
Strategic Plan
The strategic planning process is drawing to a close, and we currently have a draft plan that is widely supported on campus. I’d like to thank everyone for your participation. By the end of spring semester we should be distributing the working draft. Next year, we’ll be using it to adjust the course of our university through implementation.
New Scholarship Program
Planning is underway for a very exciting new development: the launch of an ambitious new scholarship program at UH Hilo one year from now. Details are still being worked out, so I am not at liberty to reveal the donors. Funding 4-year scholarships for ten entering students beginning with the 2012-13 academic year. Scholarships are reserved Big Island high school graduates who have limited financial resources and are first in their families to attend college. Ten scholars will start UH Hilo in 2012, with ten more added each year until program reaches 40 participants annually. Just as exciting, each cohort of students will receive specialized support services and the opportunity to participate in four summers of uniquely designed programming here on the Big Island and elsewhere. Our own faculty and staff will be involved in the delivery of these programs and services.
Budget
As you know, the current fiscal situation in the state presents a challenge to implementing the changes the campus would like to see. The budget challenge is statewide: state government needs to make up a $1.3 billion shortfall in the next biennium. UH Hilo has already taken a 24.5% reduction in general funds over the last three years. Last week we learned how we fared in the legislature for CIP. We got 50% funding for student housing ($16 million) and permission to get the other 50% from revenue bonds. The legislature is also giving us $4 million towards the renovations and addition to Hale Kanilehua to accommodate living/learning centers. Please join us for the all-campus meeting on the budget set for Thurs., May 5 at 11:30am in Wentworth 1.
Graduation Initiative
We’re confident UH Hilo will exceed this year’s graduation targets set for us by the UH System.
Aloha,
I am pleased to announce that the search for a permanent University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is moving forward. I am committed to an extensive national search to identify candidates with the experience, vision and energy to develop and advance strategic academic priorities at UH Hilo.
We now have a well-rounded and representative search committee, recruited in consultation with the UH Hilo Faculty Congress, Hanakahi Council, and UH Hilo Student Association, to advise me on the selection:
- Norman Arancon, Assistant Professor, Horticulture
- Lari-Anne Au, Librarian
- Daniel Brown (committee chair), Interim Vice Chancellor for Research
- Jason Cabral, Assistant Professor, Hawaiian Language and Literature
- Linda Connelly, Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Emmeline de Pillis, Professor, Management
- Devaki Drozario, UHHSA Representative
- Gabriele Matull-Worst, Associate Registrar
- John Pezzuto, Dean, College of Pharmacy
- Cheryl Ramos, Associate Professor, Psychology
- Nicole Ryan, Academic Support Specialist, North Hawaii Education and Research Center
- David Sing, Director, Na Pua No‘eau Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children
Many thanks to Dan Brown for agreeing to chair the committee. A national search firm will help identify a diverse pool of qualified candidates and will generally support the search process.
I would also like to express my thanks to Kenith Simmons for serving as interim VCAA during the search process.
Donald Straney
Chancellor